Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Leiognathidae (Slimys, slipmouths, or ponyfishes)
Etymology: Leiognathus: Greek, leios = smooth + Greek, gnathos = jaw (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous; depth range 10 - 110 m (Ref. 12260). Tropical; 26°C - 29°C (Ref. 4959); 30°N - 23°S

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m 10.7 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 28.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710); common length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15. Deep-bodied with short rounded snout and large eyes (Ref. 48635). Body silvery; caudal peduncle with a small brown saddle; anal fins yellowish; dorsal fin transparent. Strongly arched back. Naked head; with nuchal spine. Protracted mouth pointing downward.

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Persian Gulf and East Africa (including Reunion, Comoros, Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius) to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia.

Found in river mouths and muddy inshore areas (Ref. 2847, 37816), often in mangrove areas (Ref. 48635). Adults are coastal inhabitants found on soft bottoms, usually between depths of 10-70 meters. Juveniles are commonly found in mangrove estuaries and tidal creeks, sometimes entering the lower reaches of freshwater streams (Ref. 44894). Adults move in schools. Frequently ascend into freshwater reaches of rivers (Ref. 12693). Active by day (Ref. 12693). Feed on polychaetes, small crustaceans, small fishes (Ref. 30573) and worms (Ref. 12693). Important food fish in the tropics (Ref. 4376). Marketed fresh or dried (Ref. 12484).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Woodland, David J. | Collaborators

James, P.S.B.R., 1984. Leiognathidae. In W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Vol. 2. FAO, Rome. pag. var.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01888 (-0.03600 - 0.07377), b=3.01 (2.98 - 3.05), based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 3.0 ±0.40 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.35-1.88).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (16 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): High.

Leiognathus equulus (Forsskål, 1775)